Over the Top Award

Jayne and Becky awarded me the Over the Top Blog award...thanks! :) Now it's my turn to play along...


This award comes with some rules and a survey I have to fill out.

Rules
1. You Can Only Use One Word!
2. Pass this along to 6 of your favorite bloggers!
3. Alert them that you have given them this award!
4. Have Fun!

The Fun Part
1. Where is your cell phone? purse
2. Your hair? brown
3. Your mother? Montana
4. Your father? Montana
5. Your favorite food? pasta
6. Your dream last night? wierd
7. Your favorite drink? coffee
8. Your dream/goal? peace
9. What room are you in? studio
10. Your hobby? Scrapbooking
11. Your fear? accidents
12. Favorite place to eat? Mom's
13. Where were you last night? Home
14. Something that you aren’t? confident
15. Muffins? pumpkin
16. Wish list item? debt-less (not really a word?!?)
17. Where did you grow up? Montana
18. Last thing you did? ate
19. What are you wearing? clothes
20. Your TV? Off
21. Your pets? dog
22. Friends? terrific
23. Your life? great
24. Your mood? ok
25. Missing someone? family
26. Vehicle? suburban
27. Something you’re not wearing? sweater
28. Your favorite store? Whole Foods
29. Your favorite color? red
30. When was the last time you laughed? today
31. Last time you cried? September
32. Your best friend? family
33. One place that I go to over and over? Hobby Lobby
34. One person who emails me regularly? Jodi

Recipients-Don't be mad...it just means I love you! :)

1) Jodi
2) Erin
3) Colleen
4) Joleyn
5) Lee
6) Carisa

Scout Proud

Xander has joined Cub Scouts this year - and he LOVES it - he is so dedicated to learning what he needs to and excited about the meetings - and he always has such a great time.
I had NO IDEA that Boy Scouts were created based on a story from the Jungle Book - The Story of Akela and Mowgli - did you??? Xander really enjoyed listening to the story and was just as surprised as I was - now we want to watch the Jungle Book! :) Yes Disney's version - maybe someday I will read the REAL Jungle Book to him - I think he would enjoy it.
Anywho...Scouts are good - the handbook goes over SO MANY things with the kids - it is really quite impressive. Things like:
Safety - we had a great discussion on strangers and safety.
Using tools - Steve and Xander made a birdhouse together.
Being honest and helpful and why it's important.

He really does take it seriously and I am so proud of him. Plus doesn't he look so cute and grown up!!!



Oh and let's not forget he learns to be a good salesman - yes he will be selling the infamous Trail's End Popcorn and a lot of it - so hey if ya want some give me a holler :) Xander is actually VERY excited to go to our neighbors and sell his goods! Here's to hoping he sells 27 items so he can get that marshmallow blaster. :)

My Sweet Connor

Found photo - my dad must have taken this while we were at Scott Park waiting for Steve to finish up the Big Horn Mountain Run.
I absolutely love it - it shows Connor's wonderfully sweet smile - which is a VERY HARD thing to capture on film!!!!

Steve and a Half marathon

My Hottie Husband ran a half marathon last weekend - official finish time - 1:33:31



Yeah he really is a stud - I wish I was as dedicated to running as he was.



Way to go McDreamy I am proud of you!!!

LOAD

So I am participating in my first ever LOAD (which stand for Layout a Day) for the month of October! So yes my goal is to stick with it and accomplish at least 31 layouts in the month of October. I am really excited to scrap every day - it's been a while since I have scrapped consistently and just for me!

Here are my first 2 layouts:

8 Things: Loving Fall!!!

My friends Jayne and Lee and Char all participate in Magpie Girl's 8 Things and I always love reading their lists - it inspires me to try new things - maybe to listen
to new music or try a new restaurant or be thankful in new ways.
So I have decided to join in! Last Wednesday's prompt was about fall so here are my 8 Things I love about fall (I talked about most of these yesterday - but I am happy
to celebrate them again today!!!!)

1) The colors - love looking at the trees in their reds and golds and oranges - it really is breathtaking!!

2) The smell - that earthy goodness!!

3) The cool nights - I sleep like a baby!!

4) Halloween - I love the dressing up, the decorating, Xander's excitement in all the ghoulish fun! Scary movies, scary attractions, pumpkin carving!!!

5) Pumpkin Patches - it's so fun getting to pick out your very own pumpkin from the place that it grew!! We loved Koltiska's back in Sheridan and now we love Vala's
here in Omaha.

6) Like my friend Becky reminded me - getting to wear my oh so fun and funky warm socks!

7) Snuggling up on the couch with the following:
the kiddoes
Steve
a warm blanket
a good movie playing
a super cozy fire going
and a cup of hot cocoa or hot apple cider
Sounds pretty good doesn't it??

8) Walking and running and playing outside in the sunshine but cooler temps - goodbye sweating!!!

This was fun - now lets see if I can remember to post my 8 things!!!

Falls Here

Sandal weather may be coming to an end - WOOHOO!!! Not that I don't love my sandals - but I LOVE FALL!!!!!!!!!!! I really really do. I love the cold nights and mornings - I sleep like a baby. I love the cool sunny afternoons. The colors of the leaves make me swoon - and giddy! Even the smell is so comforting. This is my season - I just can't help but be happy!

I am not sure if I told you all or not but I have a new job - I have been at it since the end of August. And here is a little secret - I love this job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! As far as outside the home jobs - this job is truly the best job ever!!! I am an assistant preschool teacher - I know - I am so lucky!!! This was one of those things I thought might be too good to be true when I interviewed for it. The ladies I interviewed with were beyond wonderful. When I got the call offering me the job I was beyond thrilled. So there ya have I work outside the home now with two bunches of absolutely adorable kiddoes, and alongside some really fantastic teachers. I only work mornings so I still get to create like a mad woman in the afternoons - which also makes me giddy!!!

Life is good!

So I was reading on Scrap Happy her list of things she would like to accomplish in the next few months - and I thought it was brilliant - I have a growing list of things I want to do - so what better than to post them here - maybe some of the items will inspire you to do something different - or maybe not.

Make hot pepper pizza.

Make tomato pizza.

Go to wildlife safari for the Halloween festivities.

Go to Fontenelle Forest for their Halloween festivities.

Make a pumpkin roll.

Make new jewelry - lots and lots of it.

And hoping I sell lots and lots of said jewelry!!!

Do a layout a day in the month of October.

Go make more pottery.

Make squash soup.

Bake a pumpkin for the first time ever.

Learn to crochet - and secretly hoping I am as good as my mom!

Make Christmas gifts for my sisters, my mom, my grandma and my mother in law.

I have ALWAYS (or at least for as long as I have known Martha Stewart (yes we are bff's))wanted to have a beautiful Harvest party outside in the beautiful cool fall weather - with a perfectly decorated table in the yard dressed like it should be inside. Complete with soup in a pumpkin - maybe this year I will get around to it. A girl can dream.....

Umm yeah a date with my hubby would be nice - it's been a while.

VALA's here we come - I love Vala's pumpkin patch - we will be going at least twice possibly three times this year.

Make new friends!!!

Get together with the wonderful friends I have.

Send care packages to my 3 nieces and 2 nephews.

Send a letter - via snail mail - it has been sooooooo long since I have done this!

Read lots and lots of books - like My Sister's Keeper and all the rest of Jodi Picoult's books and The End of the Alphabet.

Watch The Family Stone over and over again and Goonies - cause I LOVE them.

Family Movie night - we are overdue - thinking it will be Where the Wild Things Are.

Go to Halloween 2 with my hubby - cause we like scarry movies.

Rent Trick R Treat - reason see above.

Decorate our house super spooky and ghoulish for Halloween - cause we love Halloween. And we sort of love spooky! Steve had a great idea to put a full sized Michael Myers behind our gate in our backyard - the street light shines right on that area - it would be freaky - might a scare a few little ones but it would be cool - the having it there not scaring the little ones!!!

Make homemade egg rolls.

Run with Connor.

Commit to walk or run at least 3 times per week - ideally 4 or 5.

Read Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs with my Xanderman.

Complete an altered canvas (like Jayne)

Go to New Moon with Xander!!!! DUH!! We both can't wait! The rest of the family are welcomes to come - the other two boys are just not that in to it and the girl - yeah we are just not cool enough - she will not doubt see it with her friends.

Etch some silver.

Etch some brass.

Make more super cool leather cuffs - I wear mine pretty much daily - love the smell of leather and it looks SOOOOO cool!

Laugh a lot.

Maybe even dance a little.

And love much!!!!!

If you have a list made or will be making please do share with me!!! I love to read these fantastic lists - it inspires me to try new things!!!

I hope you ALL have a beautiful fall.

Layouts from this past weekends crop

Once again the fabulous Becca put on a terrific crop with all proceeds going to jdrf. Becca is amazing. I am honored to call her a friend.
It really was an awesome crop - good meals, great goodie bags, great door prizes, great raffle items, great vendors, great garage sale - truly impressive every year. I sat with a couple of really nice gals I had never met but look forward to getting together with both of them for some scrappy time real soon.
I even got a few layouts done - yippee!!




Hope you are all have a terrific week. Need a little fun inspiration each day? You gotta check this out: Notes From the Universe
Such Fun!!!

Good Stuff

Very excited about this:

I really love her music!

Newer layouts

These are layouts I did for Feelings Scrappy's Sketchapalooza 4 class. Such a great classes - if you have not taken one of these sketch classes - and if you like sketches - this is a tremendous value 20+ sketches in 4 weeks for $25.00 - plus Jayne really has some great designers!!! You really should join us the next time around.

Anywho.....here are a few pages:

Sketch by Me:


Sketch by Me:


Sketch by Tracy Kosofsky:


Sketch by Stacey Lokovik:


Sketch by me:

Sketch by Jayne Jones:


Sketch by Me:

School Days

So the kids have been back in school for an entire week now. Crazy! Where did the summer go?
The kids are now at three separate schools - I can't believe Connor is in junior high or that Macey is actually a junior in high school - and my baby is a 2nd grader. Time really does fly - it feels like I was just writing the back to school post for Macey entering high school just yesterday.
Steve and I were in Steamboat for the majority of their 1st week back to school and my wonderful friend Teri and her family took great care of the boys while we were gone. I felt bad being gone for such an important week - but all three seemed to handle it a-ok. Looks like it's gonna be a good year - they all seem to be enjoying it.


I too will be entering my own form of school days. I am excited to say I just started a new job as an assistant preschool teacher at a local preschool! I am really looking forward to it - what a great group of ladies I will be working with. The hours/schedule couldn't be more perfect. I guess the perfect job comes around when you let go....

I love this second graders cool shoes and backpack! He loves skulls and black and flames. Should I be worried? Nah cause he still loves to snuggle and give his mom tons of hugs and kisses.

And he's off....

House of Gems Contest

Looking for a Few Good Featured Artists:

Do you do a happy dance when you come across a gemstone you
don't already own?

Do you find that every conversation you have comes back to
your latest jewelry project?

Do you love to help other people on their projects by
giving tips or showing them step-by-step how to do things?

If you answered to yes to any of these questions, we may
have the perfect opportunity for you. If you answered yes to
all three, then consider this destiny.

House of Gems is looking for Featured Artists to spotlight
and promote on our website. In addition to the opportunity
to present yourself as an artist, you will also generate
traffic to your personal blog, Etsy store or social media
profile. Artists may also be given opportunities to test new
products, receive additional discounts and be the first to
be informed of new releases.

Grand Prize (1):
$1000 Shopping Spree on HouseofGems.com
Runners Up (1):
$500 Shopping Spree on HouseofGems.com
Consolation Prize (5)
$100 Shopping Spree on HouseofGems.com

Timeline:
Contest runs July 18th, 2009 thru August 15th, 2009

Submissions:
Enter formal entry form here:
http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?key=t-nh2cLJGns_PPZR7E8yQrg&hl=en
and then
Contestants are to upload a maximum of 5 original jewelry
designs to the House of Gems Flickr "Featured Artists" group
www.flickr.com/groups/featuredartists/. Any and all design
types and styles are welcome.

NOTE:
In addition to completing this entry form, and uploading your images to this Flickr
Group: www.flickr.com/groups/featuredartists/ you must share the
contest on your personal blog or website.

I hope you will join me - I entered my 5 creations - I would LOVE to win any of the mentioned prizes - bet you would too! Good luck and can't wait to see your creations.